The author of this hymn was hoping to go into ministry but was prevented from doing so because of his commitment to teaching at a girls' school in New York City. One day he found the words from a German poem about a sinner kneeling before the cross. He translated the words and added four stanzas.

A friend of his, Lowell Mason, a well-known musician in America was putting together a hymnal and asked Ray if he could contribute anything. Ray, being a very bashful man, gave his friend Lowell these words and asked him to put them to music.

Lowell Mason said to Palmer, "You may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will best be remembered as the author of "My Faith Looks Up to Thee."